Rome City police are looking for an unknown suspect who they say shot a man in the back on North Avenue this past Friday.

According to Lt. Clayton with the city police, the gunshot victim, who has been identified as 42-year-old Joseph McCluskey, is still recovering in Floyd Medical Center after he was shot almost a week ago crossing through a lot on North Avenue. After an emergency surgery, McCluskey was interviewed by police, but could not identify who had attacked him.

“He simply said he was cutting through a lot there on Southern and North Avenue, when he heard a ‘bang’ and felt a pain in his left backside, which spun him around. All he could see was a black male with a black hoodie on. He took off running,” Clayton says. “He has no idea who shot him—--he didn’t have any idea who it was, or for what purpose they did this. He just didn’t know.”

After he was shot, McCluskey stumbled into the parking lot of Hi-Tech Fuels on North Avenue, where he was found lying moments later by a customer. A store clerk there called 911.

Anyone with any information on the assailant or the incident is urged to call Rome City Police at 706-238-5111.